June 27, 2012

Rangers, Petes swap players

The club acquired Matt Puempel from the Peterborough Petes this afternoon in exchange for winger Zach Lorentz and two second round picks in 2014 and 2016.

Puempel was a first round selection (24th overall) by the Ottawa Senators in 2011 and a former OHL and CHL rookie of the year.

The trade has been in the works for about a month. Peterborough has been interested in Lorentz for some time and asked about him in other trade talks during the season.

Kitchener GM/coach Steve Spott says Puempel will play on the top line and that the team received full medical clearance before making the deal. Puempel only played 30 games last year due to a concussion.

The OHL trade freeze is on until Aug. 1, but Spott says he's not done dealing.

Puempel's addition makes for some intersting line combos. Does the team load up and go Puempel-Faksa-Rieder? Or keep Thomson up there?

As for Faksa, Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk told the Rangers that he intends to send the Czech import back to Kitchener next year. Of course, an amazing NHL camp may change those plans, but, for now, it appears Faksa is a safe bet to return.

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The club acquired Matt Puempel from the Peterborough Petes this afternoon in exchange for winger Zach Lorentz and two second round picks in 2014 and 2016.

Puempel was a first round selection (24th overall) by the Ottawa Senators in 2011 and a former OHL and CHL rookie of the year.

The trade has been in the works for about a month. Peterborough has been interested in Lorentz for some time and asked about him in other trade talks during the season.

Kitchener GM/coach Steve Spott says Puempel will play on the top line and that the team received full medical clearance before making the deal. Puempel only played 30 games last year due to a concussion.

The OHL trade freeze is on until Aug. 1, but Spott says he's not done dealing.

Puempel's addition makes for some intersting line combos. Does the team load up and go Puempel-Faksa-Rieder? Or keep Thomson up there?

As for Faksa, Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk told the Rangers that he intends to send the Czech import back to Kitchener next year. Of course, an amazing NHL camp may change those plans, but, for now, it appears Faksa is a safe bet to return.